A -- SWORDS SAFETY CONFIRMATION TESTING FOR ACCELERATED FIELDING AND PRODUCTION

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT FOR SWORDS SAFETY CONFIRMATION TESTING FOR ACCELERATED FEILDING AND PRODUCTION. This is a pre-solicitation synopsis which is not a request for competitive proposals. The work will enable the acceleration of testing required for the production and fielding of the Special Weapons Observation Remote Reconnaissance Direct Action System (SWORDS) Spiral 2.0. SWORDS 2.0 is a mobile weapon platform with reconnaissance and firepower capabilities that is remotely operated. The DPA Title III Program Office intends to award a contract or assistance instrument with cost share, on the basis of other than full and open competition for this requirement to Foster-Miller QinetiQ North America, 350 Second Ave., Waltham, MA 02451-1196. Under the authority of Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) (50 U.S.C. App. Section 2061 et seq.), the Title III Program Office is contemplating this procurement to complete testing and expand production capacity at a U.S. owned, domestic, merchant of SWORDS capable robots. Additionally, qualification work with Government agencies will be required to ensure government product requirements are met. For this program, the offeror must be able to satisfy the requirements of planning, initiating and completing testing of the latest SWORDS Spiral 2.0 robots per requirements of the Department of the Army's current SWORDS program office. Vendor must be able to testing that satisfy the following requirements: 360 degree turret turning capabilities achieving speeds up to 155 degrees per second, jam-free long range communications, use of modular chassis that is quickly reconfigurable from weapon mount to manipulator (arm) on same platform, in the field, by user. The vendor will be responsible for addressing non-compliant test incidences and manufacturing scale-up to meet demand. These capabilities are required to be ready for testing during second quarter CY2008. The period of performance for the procurement is anticipated to be 12 ? 18 months. In order to address Title III economic viability requirements, the vendor will provide an analysis of the SWORDS 2.0 robot marketplace, develop customer product qualification plans, and create a marketing communications program for both Government and commercial applications including, but not limited to military, law enforcement, and other potential customers. The offerors' ability to demonstrate testing capability of the SWORDS 2.0 robot and to accomplish the goals of this program will be assessed based on the offerors demonstrated leadership in this product category and ability to effectively address production redesigns resulting from testing activities. The government intends to issue an award for these requirements on a Sole Source basis per FAR 6.302-1(a)(1), Only One Responsible Source or DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations 37.400 (b), based on the afore-mentioned requirements, as well as an assessment of technical and programmatic risk to the Government. Offerors who are capable of meeting the requirements stated above shall fully identify their interest and submit, in writing, information documenting their qualifications and capabilities to meet the requirements stated above within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. This documentation shall specify the offerors area of expertise and experience. It shall identify the offerors current experience with SWORDS robots including design and testing details and the specific applications where the product is currently used. The documentation shall identify relevant production experience, and a listing of government customers that currently utilize the offerors SWORDS product. Responses received after 15 days or without the required information will be considered non-responsive to the synopsis, and will not be considered. Direct all questions pertaining to this acquisition to the contracting point of contacts listed above in this announcement. Only one responsible source per capability of interest and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as per the authority under 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1). All responsible sources may submit information, which shall be considered by the agency. Any information received for this Notice of Contract Action will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. See Numbered Note 22.